State & territory guides

How to sue someone in Australia (it depends where you are).

Eight jurisdictions, nine-ish forums, wildly different limits. Pick yours.

NSWNSW Local Courtup to $20,000Guide VICVCATno published capGuide QLDQCATup to $25,000Guide SASA Magistrates Courtup to $12,000Guide WAWA Magistrates Courtup to $10,000Guide TASTAS Magistrates Courtup to $15,000Guide ACTACATup to $25,000Guide NTNTCATup to $25,000Guide

Every forum at a glance
State	Forum	Limit	Fees (individual)	Checked
NSW	Local Court of NSW — Small Claims Division	$20,000	$179	2026-10-28
NSW	NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) — Consumer and Commercial Division	$100,000	$64 / $133 / $344	2026-10-30
VIC	Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) — Civil Claims List	No published cap	$67.40 / $222.80	2026-10-30
VIC	Magistrates' Court of Victoria (Civil)	$100,000	$176.20 / $367.90 / $559.50 / $839.30	2026-10-30
QLD	Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) — Minor Civil Disputes	$25,000	$96.30 / $164.30 / $405.60	2026-10-30
SA	Magistrates Court of South Australia — Minor Civil Action	$12,000	$186	2026-10-28
WA	Magistrates Court of Western Australia — Minor Case	$10,000	$199.50	2026-10-30
TAS	Magistrates Court of Tasmania (Civil Division) — Minor Civil Claim	$15,000	$147 / $284.20	2026-10-30
ACT	ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) — Civil Disputes	$25,000	$93 / $195 / $707	2026-10-30
NT	Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) — Small Claims	$25,000	$129 / $259 / $518	2026-10-30

Fees change every 1 July (WA from September). Always confirm on the official site before lodging.

Stop being nice about it.

Build your case free in about 10 minutes. Letter of demand first, statement of claim and court pack if they ignore it. Court-ready from $99 incl. GST.

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